BOSTON -- As first reported by the Journal yesterday morning, David Ortiz (wrist) is progressing and will begin a rehab stint with the PawSox on Thursday at McCoy Stadium.

“He feels good,” said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. “He’s pretty excited about things.”

Ortiz began taking batting practice earlier in the week and continues to hit on the field and in the cage. He’s been facing a pitching machine in order to simulate pitches down and away, and up and in to test the wrist.

He will attend the All-Star Game in New York this week, but will not play because of his injury. He will hit in the cage tomorrow and Tuesday at Yankee Stadium before heading to McCoy on Thursday, where he’ll play three games for the PawSox, have a day off, then play three games for Double-A Portland.

This way he won’t have to travel and, if everything goes according to plan, he’ll return to the lineup July 25 against the Yankees at Fenway Park.

Knowing that he’s close to returning and didn’t have to have the surgery, Ortiz was pleased.

“I had so many surgeries already,” he said, referring to his off-season knee operation. “I don’t want no more. It’s good to know I’ll be able to play without having surgery. … Sometimes I get a little sore, but it’s not the sore that bothers me.”